Lighthouse 3 Ring Binders

This may sound like a silly question but, with so many album manufacturers having proprietary binders, are Lighthouse 3 ring binders designed for Vario sheets, such as the Grande binder, of a standard 3 ring configuration? In other words, is the ring spacing the same as in an ordinary, everyday 3 ring binder?

Not a silly question as many binders are proprietary. Yes, Lighthouse Grande 3-ring binders use standard spacing for the rings. I use a regular 3-hole punch to create pages for my collection which can be used for any 3-ring binder. Hope this helps.

Scott

I'm pretty sure that the 3-ring Vario-F and Vario-G binders are standard as well. I use those with Vario pages, but I believe them to be standard 3-ring measurements.

Lighthouse Vario binders are designed for Vario stock-pages. Lighthouse Grande binders are designed for Grande stock-pages. They're two different things, although the smaller Vario page will fit into the larger Grande binder. Lighthouse binders to accommodate album leaves use a proprietary ring system.

I use Vario F binders with custom pages that are standard 3-hole punched. Looks good.

All except one of my Lighthouse binders house Vario pages. The exception is my Adminware Novice Machin pages. Happy I chose this route.

Jack Kelley

On another note, do the sheet-lifters that come with these binders serve any real purpose? I have removed them in the interest of maximizing page space, but am wondering whether there's any benefit to keeping them in.

I use the Vario-G binders and are available as standard 3 ring binders. I think you can get in 4 ring too but hard to get in US. Vario-G and Grande are not the same.

The rings are U-shaped.

My source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/5-NEW-Ligh...AOSwPhdVDDGm

If the binder's rings are fitted to the spine, the plastic lifters enable the binder to open and close smoothly. It's a nuisance without them -



I'm not sure what purpose they serve when the rings are mounted on the back cover of the binder.

I thought the rings on the back vs the spine was related to a lay flat design. The Lighthouse binders would benefit from boosters to open the rings evenly and ring alignment although I have noticed any issues.

Yes, those Vario binders with three rings are specifically designed for the U.S. and will fit all three-ring Vario and similar sheets. The Vario F binder is smaller and more proportional in size to normal Vario sheets. The other Vario binders, the Vario F and Vario Grande are much larger so I find that normal sized Vario sheets look a bit lost in them, though they do hold more. To some extent with these binders, you have to decide if you want volume or a pleasing look.

Vario F = What I would call a normal notebook-sized binder, sized to fit Vario pages, three round rings on the spine, dustcase, elegant padded cover

Vario Grande = Larger binder with three large D-rings on the rear cover (not the spine), with dustcase, cover not padded (?)

Vario G = Much larger binder with longer rectangular rings mounted on the back cover, dustcase, cover not padded (?). See Angore's picture above.

My opinions about them:

1. In my use of binders, D-rings work much better than the others. Round rings don't hold as many pages as D-rings. The long rectangular rings seem made for storage of as many pages as possible, and they do hold more pages, but they don't seem made for actual album use. The main problem is that trying to turn a page is laborious. You must lift each page (or pages) all the way up one side of the rings, across the top, and down the other side. This gets tiresome quickly. I just want to turn the page! I also don't like the look of large industrial-sized rings in my stamp albums. They remind me of office binders for storing work orders or bills of lading more than stamp albums.

2. The Vario Grande is a large-size binder, and I find it too large for album pages. The rings dominate the "look" of the album too much for my taste, and album pages seem just a bit lost inside it because of its size and large rings.

3. The padded cover Vario F is the best looking of the three and the nicest to use -- even though it doesn't hold as many pages as the others. So I just buy an extra binder or two.

Why are rings sometimes mounted on the back cover? Because it allows pages to not move as much when you open and close a binder with rings on the spine -- so that pages don't move toward the edge of the cover as much. It seems to work.

The Vario F has its rings on the spine so you'd think it would be less appealing to me. Plus its rings are round. But as I said, to me it seems most "album-like," most attractive, and most pleasing to use. If LH made the rings D-rings and moved them to the back cover instead of the spine it might be the ideal binder.

Your mileage may differ. These are merely my own impressions. Use the one that suits you. Of course, and they're all well made and attractive.

There's no such thing as a "Vario Grande". The two are entirely different ranges, among others offered by Lighthouse - Optima, Folio etc.

https://www.leuchtturm.com/collect-...ic-sheets-1/

I always thought Vario G stood for Grande. No?

Jack

Jack - your whole life has been a sham ... "Gigant", I think

I have a couple Lighthouse binders, classic design, I believe, and would like to buy a couple more. However, I can't seem to find exactly what I have.

Mine measure 12" high x 10" wide. Using the link in GeoffHa's post above, the Optima binders look exactly like what I have, but the dimensions cited in the ad are 9 1/2" x 10 3/4," slightly smaller than mine and the Optima's are four rings and mine have only three.

The Grande's, classic design, also look like what I have, are larger, i.e. 13" high by 11 1/2" wide.

There are no markings on my binders that identify the style. Any suggestions as to what Lighthouse style/brand I need to be looking for?

Thanks.

Don

I wonder whether there may be slight size differences between the binders (i.e. three-ring) that Lighthouse produces for the US market and the European ones?